Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-06-17
ovelY smile, murmuring Have

nothing unfeminine in her manner,
but the action shocked my old-fash-
toned prejutlices, though as the small
object was being consumed could not
but admire the rare grace a'y' perfect
ease Of her every gesture.
One other guest completed the circle
IN my salon that evening, He was
Italian, a dark oliye-skinned son OF t..
south, who had not often been one OF
my kaHee- klatsch. I could not. with
all my efforts, discover his real mission
to- this country. He had been introduce
sd to me by a common friend who mad
met him while travelling abroad, and
who had been greatly pleased by his
brilliant social qualities and by his
wonderful musical talent. Dc Vendosa
had asked my permission to call and,
cordially welcomed .him. This was
only the third time L had received him.
and that evening viii be ever marked
by white stone in nv memory.
Every one OF us had travelled extern
s;vely and were thoroughly acquainted
with foreign countries and customs.
The rare descriptions of persons and
places which We're scattered SO careless
" that night would have adorned the
finest works of travel. Such bon mots!
such epi graDls! and then such music!
My beloved little upright fairly awoke
to a new life under the wonderful
! manipulation of NJ. DaVendosa. And
| as the beautiful Sweue responded to
our solicitations and poured food Of
harmony from her fair white throat
broadcast into the room, we mutcly
glanced from one to another in the
eliminating rapture Of an enjoyment
which was too deep for words.
! And alas! such a festival must ever
be associated in my mind with my
| rrcparable loss! | bcncaned my mis-
fortune to Mrs. Van Wort, and she
shared nv SORROW and advised all sorts
| of schemes for the recovery of the herr
loom. l told DR.. Farnsworth of the
ill-luc> which had befaIlcn me, and he
promised to do ali III his power to re-
pair it; and SO affected was I by my
| loss that | could not refrain from
! speaking of it, on his next visit, to De
| Venuosa.
do YOU remember the last evening
you passed with me:?" l asked, and
wondered Il little at the rush Of color
| which Of a saduen, dyed his dark
| check.
Il 10 indeed, madame" he replied,
courteously with the gallantry Of his
nation. Can one who has once par
| taken of matlune's charming nospitali-
| ty ever cease to remember it?"
| acknowledged his tlattering reply
and said ''Ah, but monsieur, | wish to
recall to you that one evening in partic-
ular, when YOU and Mnc. Ericsson en-
cnanted us witt, Your beautiful music?'
''PerFectly, madame, perfectly he
replied; and then. as if impatient Of the
sub ject, he moved towards the piano
saying. will it please you if 1 give you
a little more ml,S:c?"
| acqu;esced OF course and he PLAYED
for some time, improvising at intervals,
aud finally gliding into astrange, weird
Swed sh folk-song with which Nine.
Ericsson had charmed us on that men,
orable evening", in the midst of which
he stopped suddenly, left the piano and,
| approaching me, babe me hastv,
though courteous farewell. He made
no apology for his abruptness, and I
could only account for it by ren,em-
berng the mpulsive character Of his
nation. But in recounting to Di. Farms
! worth his evident Impotence at the
| subject of our conversation and his odd
and mysterious actions, my good friend
looked {; little suspicious and put me
through a rigid examination as to the
length Of my acquaintance with the
young Italian and the value and genu-
ineness of his credentials.
"Perhaps he could tell you something
Of the mysterious disappearance of the
pitcher" he suggested
"Nonsense!' I replied. testify. for I
was really fond of the brilliant young
foreigner and felt utterly sure that he
was as innocent of the theft as the doc
tor himself.
Cant tell; foreigners, Italians es-
pecially, are apt 30 feel strong predi-
lect on for others goods. I think I'll
inst tute some inquiries concerning the
fellow"
You need do no such thing" said,
genuinely angry at his suggestion. Il
would rather lose so cream jugs than
have that brilliant, lovable boy accused
I of SO mean crime
Time went on and I had to resign
myself to my loss. Julia was almost
as much distressed rs l. as the months
rolled on and we heard nothing of the
pitcher. 1t was little singular that
after that oddly terminated call of De
Vendosa l should have seen nothing
more of him. He sent me little note
few days latter. apolog;zing for his
abruptness on the plea of extreme
nervousness caused by certain trouble
which had weighed heavily upon him
of late. That he did not eatirely ex-
clude himse.f learned from Mary Van
Wort. who brought Nine. Ericsson to
call upon me several times and who
spoke of his frequent visits to them.
One day I was sitting, idly reading a
novel by the fire, when Julia announced
'.Mrs. Van WORT" She came in look
ing quite distressed and uncomfortable,
seemingly so absorbed in some subject
that she scarce returned my salutations
before she began:
Fanny dear, how long have you
known M. DeVendosa?''
How long? Oh, possibly a year.
Why?"
do you know anything of his ante.
cedents, or in fact of bis history and
character, save as he appears in soci-
ety?"
Come, come Mary, what is it? What
are you aiming at9 Out with it at
once / do not know anything of De-
Ventlosa save that Mrs. Dewitt met
him in Italy and asked me to show him
some Kindness, and as I heartily like
and admire the young fellow I was only
too glad to do so. Now, what do your
| questions meau?' "
| Ispoke defiantly rather for read
distrust and suspicion of my favorite III
her manner, and was impatient of it.
Il hon oha;r ~ ,,;no arf3